Sliding door



June 25, 1935. H go ms 2,006,228

' SLIDING DOOR Filed Feb; 6, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v A INVENTOR Harold Ff Coll/776 ATTORN EYS June 25,1935. H, F COLLI S 2,006,228

SLIDING DOOR Filed Feb. 6, 1950 2 2 sheets-s eet 2 INVENTOR Harold OOZ/ZI 7/776 ATTORNEYS Patented June 25, 1935 PATENT OFFICE SLIDING DOOR Harold F. Collins, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Howard D. Colman, Rockford, Ill.

Application February 6, 1920, Serial No. 426,216

' 21 Claims.

The invention pertains to doors of the sliding type, consisting of one or more panels guided for edgewise movement from a position in closing relation to a door opening, into an open position.

at one side of the opening.

The primary object of the invention is to provide improved means for guiding the door from open to closed position and vice versa, of a character such that the door in moving into closed position automatically assumes a tightly fitting relation to the door frame without resulting, as a necessary incident, in a binding or wedging action such as to interfere with the easy movement of the door away from its closed posi- A further object is to provide a combined guiding and control means for a door of the character .referred to, which insures a free edgewise movement of the door toward and from closed posi- 00 tion, and additionally acts upon the door'as it approaches or leaves such position to effect an abrupt change in the direction of movement, imparting thereto a bodily movement carrying its marginal edge portions in tightly fitting relation to the door frame.

Another object is to provide a guiding and control means of the character referred to which is adapted for use in connection with doors composed of a series of panels hinged together in abutting edge relation.

A general object is toprovide a doorguiding means of the character referred to which is ca-.

pable of economical manufacture and'which is positive in operation and otherwise ofa practical character.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the invention in its preferred form, as applied to a door of the overhead type. In these drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary elevational view of an overhead multipanel door in its closed position and showing the rear side of the door.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on a somewhat larger scale, the view being taken substantailly in the plane of line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the upper panel of the door in a position occupied during the movement from horizontal to vertical position.

Fig. 4 is a similar view but showing the upper portion of the door in closed position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the guiding and control means employed.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the counterbalancing means.

. The door as shown comprises a plurality of panels I hinged together in abutting edge to edge relation, the number and size of the panels being determined by the size of the opening to be closed, The latter is herein shown as formed 5 by a frame 8 providing an abutment 9 against which marginal edge portions of the door engage in the closed position of the door. Any suitable form of hinge connections may be provided, but preferably consist of hinge members or plates I0 and I I (Fig. 5), the plate In having side flanges l2 to form bearings fora hinge pin I3, and the plate ll having a curl H for receiving the pin between the bearing flanges l2.

The panels I thus hinged together are guided for edgewise movement from a vertical position closing the door opening into an overhead, sub-'- stantially horizontal position, bymeans comprising a pair of tracks l5 one for each side edge of the door, and two sets of rollers IS, the rollers of the two sets being carried by the door and engaging respectively in the opposite tracks IS.

The tracks consist of straight vertical sections l1, straight horizontal sections l8, and intermediate curved sections 19. The straight vertical sections H are suitably secured to.the door frame as by means of brackets 20, and herein are spaced inwardly from the frame abutment 9 a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the panels. The upper rear end of the straight hori- 30 zontal sections l8 of each track may be suspended from a suitable overhead support as by means of a bracket 2|.

The guide rollers I6 are supported in pivotal relation to the door panels and are made of a diameter substantially corresponding to the Width of the guiding channel provided by the tracks I5. In the present instance the pivotal supports for the rollers l6 are in the nature of triangularly shaped arms. The uppermost arms 22, owing to the fact that the rollers carried thereby engage with the curved sections 19 of the tracks in the closed position of the door, are made somewhat longer than theother arms 23 engaging the straight vertical sections of the tracks.

Each of said arms 22 and 23 is made rigid with one end of a hinge pin l3, and in each instance the opposite end of the pin I3 is extended to receive a coiled spring 24, one end of which is anchored to the pin through the medium of a collar 25 and the other end 26 is extended upwardly so as to bear against the adjacent panel. Thus the arms 23 are normally urged by their springs 24 in a direction to swing the rollers l6 downwardly with the result that the springs normally serve to hold the panels inwardly away from the door opening and hence free-of the frame abutment 9. In this connection, the arms 22, 23'.

because of their peculiar triangular shape, coact with the lowermost hinge plates Hi to limit the extent of movement of the panels toward the'tracks.

While it is desirable that the door be capable of'free sliding movement, it is also desirable that when in closed positon its marginal edge portions nections 21a at their lower ends with the arms' 23 in order to permit of relative lengthwise movement between the links as the door panels swing relative to each other in passing from vertical to overhead horizontal position, and viceversa.

The arrangement is such (compare Figs. 3 and 4) that in the movement of the door into closed position, the pins 29 on the upper arms 22 strike the stop 30, and in the continued movement .of the panels toward closed position the uppermost panel swings forwardly toward the frame abutment 9. Then in the final relatively short closing movement of the door, all of the rollers l6 are simultaneously interrupted, causing the arms 22, 23 'to rock downwardly and forwardly and, with a toggle-like action; impart a relatively sudden forward movement to the panels at their several hinge connections. The result is that all of the panels are simultaneously carried ,into snugly fitting relation to the frame abutment, against the action of the. springs '24. In the closed position of the door, as shown in Figs. 2

and 4, the axes of the rollers l6 and of the corresponding hinge pins l3 are disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane.

When the door is moved away from closed position, the arms 22 and 23 turn relative to the panels, the rollers being held downwardly by the action of the springs 24 so that the panels are immediately moved inwardly away from the I frame abutment 3, permitting free continued movement into open position.

To facilitate the operation of the door, a counterbalancing means is preferably provided. The

means herein shown for this purpose comprises .a pair of springs, one for each side edge of the door.1 Said springs are in the form of torsion springs 3|, each coiled about adrum 32 and connected at one end to a stationary plate 33, and at its other end to a sheave 34, the whole being supported from a bracket 35. A small wire cable 36 is anchored at one end to the sheave 33 and at its other end to the lower end, of the door, the springs being under maximum tension when door is in its closed position.

I have found that the construction provided insures that the door, when in closed position, a

will be held against the frame or other abutment with the desired degree of snugness, and since this result is accomplished by the use of pivotal elements having a definite predetermined range of movement, I avoid the tendency heretofore experienced with other doors to stick or bind toan extent such as to render their operation from closed position very difficult. Moreover, the construction employed will be seen to be of a rugged character and capable of manufacture at relatively low cost.

the

I claim as my invention: 1. The combination of a door having a plurality of panels hinged together in edge to edge relation, a door frame providing an, opening with an abutmentfor engagement by marginal edge portions of the panels, a plurality of actuating elements pivotally mounted on the door panels,

and a track engaged by said elements to guide the door in a plane approximately parallel to the door opening, said elements being swingable relative to the individual panels as the door ap proaches or leaves its closed position to impart to the individual panels a relatively abrupt movement toward orfrom the plane of the 'door' opening whereby to carry said marginal edge portions toward or from said abutment.

'2.' The combination of a door, a door frame providing :an'opening with an abutment for en-' gag'ement by marginal edge portionsof thedoor, said door being movable edgewise across said opening, and guiding and controlling means for the door including a plurality of pivotal actuating" "elements carried by the door, said elements being swingable relative to the door as it approaches its operable in the movement of the door away from its closed position to move-it abruptly in a direc- '.tion away fromtheabutment'. I

3. A door having marginal edge portions adapted to engage with a door frame to close the opening therethrough, guide means extending substantially parallel to the door opening, a plurality of crank arms pivoted to said door at points spaced apart in the direction of travel of the door, means in said arms engaging with said.

guide means, and means operating as the door approaches or leaves its closed position to impart a a turning movement to each of said-crank arms to produce an arcuate motion of the ends connected to the door whereby to impart to the latter a relatively abrupt movement toward orfrom said frame. l 4. The combination with a door frame, of, a door having marginal edge portions adapted to engage said frame and movable in a plane parallel to the frame into and out of closed relation thereto, a pair of crank arms pivoted to the door' at points spaced apart in the direction of its movement, a track spaced from the door on the side opposite the frame and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the frame, guidingelements carried by the crank arms and adapted to engage said track at spaced points, and means operable as an incident to the edgewise move ment ofthe door in approaching its closed POSi-r tion to impart a turning movement to each of said arms and thereby effect arelatively abrupt movement of the door toward the frame.

5. The combination with a door frame, of a door having marginal edge portions adapted to engage said frame and movable in a plane sub stantially parallel to the frame into and out of closed relation thereto, a pair ofcrank arms pivoted to the door z .id having limited rotational movement relative thereto, a track spacedfrom the door on the side opposite the frame and ex-- tending in a direction substantially parallel to the frame, guiding elements carried by the crank arm and adapted to engage said track, means operable as an incident to the edgewise' movement of the door in approaching its closed position to impart a turning movement to each of said arms and thereby efiect a relatively abrupt movement of the door toward the frame, and spring means acting to rotate said arms reversely as an incident to the edgewise movement of the door away from said closed position and thereby carry the marginal edge portions laterally away from the frame.

6. The combination with a door frame of a door having marginal edge portions arranged to abut said frame and movable edgewise relative to the frame in opening and closing the door, a track spaced from the frame, a crank arm pivoted at one end to the door and having a guide element engaging in said track, spring means acting between said door and said arm and tending to rotate the arm in a direction to move the, door laterally away from the frame, and stop means acting upon said arm in the approach of the door into its closed position to rotate the arm against the action of said spring means and in a direction to move the door laterally against said frame.

7. The combination with, a door frame of a door having marginal edge portions aranged to abut said frame and movable edgewise relative to the frame in opening and closing the door, a track spaced from the frame, a pair of v crank arms pivoted at one end to the door and having guide elements engaging in said track, spring means acting between said door and said arms and tending to rotate the arms in a direc tion to move the door laterally away from the frame, and stop means acting upon said arms in the approach of the door into its closed position to rotate the arms against the action of said spring means and in a direction to move the door laterally against said frame, said stop means including a stop member mounted in fixed relation to the track and adapted for engagement by one of said arms as the door approaches its closed position, and a link connecting the two arms.

8. The combination with a door frame, of a door having marginal edge portions arranged to abut said frame and movable edgewise relative to the frame in opening and closing the door, a track spaced from the frame, a pair of crank arms pivoted at on end to the door and having guide elements engaging said track, spring means acting between said door and said arms and tending to rotate the arms in a direction to move the door laterally away from the frame, and stop means acting uponsaid arms in the approach of the doorinto its closed position to rotate the arms against the action of said spring means and in a direction to move the door laterally against said frame, said arms having parts adapted to engage with the door to limit their rotational movement under the action of said spring means.

9. The combination of a door frame, a' door comprising a plurality of panels hinged together in abutting edge relation, a pair of tracks at opposite sides of the door opening with relatively straight vertical sections parallel to the door opening, straight horizontal sections above the door opening, and curved sections connecting the straight sections, a plurality of crank arms each having one end pivotally connected to the door, rollers carried by the arms and engaging in said tracks, links connecting the several crank arms at each side of the door, said links being adapted to permit relative turning movement between the panels as the door moves from its vertical position into overhead position or vice versa, and

the panels laterally into tightly fitting relation to the frame.

10. The combination of a door frame, a door comprising a plurality of panels hinged together in abutting edge relation, a pair of tracksat opposite sides of the door opening with relatively straight vertical sections parallel to the door opening, straight horizontal sections above the door opening, and curved sections connecting the straight sections, a plurality of crank arms each having one end pivotally connected to the door, rollers carried by the arms and engaging in said tracks, links connecting the several crank arms at each side of the door, said links being adapted to permit relative turning movement between the panels as the door moves from its vertical position into overhead position or vice versa, and stop means operating as an incident to the movement of the door into closed position to rock the interconnected arms in a direction to move the panels laterally into,tightly fitting relation to the frame, said stop means including a pair of stop members adjacent the upper edge of the door opening, and parts carried by the uppermost arms at opposite sides of the door and adapted to engage said stop members as the door approaches its closed position.

11. The combination of a door frameproviding' an opening with a marginal abutment, a door having a plurality of panels with marginal edge portions adapted to engage said abutment, hinges connecting said panels in edge to edge relation and each including a hinge pin, atrack, an arm fast on each hinge pin and having a guide element engaging said track, springs mounted on said hinge pins and acting upon the door, said springs tending to rotate said arms in a direction to move the door away from the abutment, and means operable as the door moves into closed position to rock said arms against the action of said springs.

12. The combination of a door frame providing an opening with a marginal abutment, a door having a plurality of panels with marginal edge portions adapted to engage said abutment,

hinges connecting said panels in edge to edge position to rock said arms against the action of said springs, each of said arms having parts cooperating with the door to limit their rotational movements by their respective springs.

13. A door comprising a plurality of panels having hinges connecting them in edge to edge relation, guide means including a track adapted to be mounted in substantially parallel relation to a door opening, swingable arms carried by thehinges between adjacent panels and having rollers on their free ends adapted to engage withsaid track, and means operable as the door moves into its closed position to swing said arms simul- F t-aneously in a direction to force said panels into tightly fitting relation to the door opening.

14. In an overhead door construction, a plurality of hingedlyconnected shiftable door members for traversing a door opening, guiding means for directing the movements of said door members between open and closed positions, said guiding means including an upright section, and door closing means shiftably and solely supportedby the door members at the hinged connection thereof, said means being adapted when shifted with respect to the door members to effect lateral movement thereof toward the door opening.

15. In an overhead door construction, a plurality of shiftable door members for traversing a door opening, guiding means for directing the movements of said door-members between open and closed positions, said guiding means including an upright section, door closing means shiftably supported by the door members, said means being adapted when shifted with respect to the door member to effect lateral movement thereof toward'the door opening, and means for automatically effecting the shifting of said door closingmeans when the door members are shifted ItO a predetermined position.

' for engagement by the door in the closed position thereof, means for directing the movements of the door edgewise between a closed upright position and a substantially horizontal position near one edge of the'door opening, said means including a, guide track and a plurality of arms pivotally supported by the door adjacent the hinge connections between said panels and having guide elements at their free ends engaging in said track and disposed below the arm pivots while the door is moving in a ,vertical direction, and actuating means operating automatically as an incident to the movement of the door into closed position to swing the arms so as to carry said guide elements upwardly, said, elements operating in such movement to exert a thrust between said track and the door was to impart a relatively abrupt movement to the door in a direction toward said frame. 1

17. An overhead door having a plurality of hingedly connected panels for traversing an opening, tracks having upright sections adjacent the opening and substantially horizontal sections receding from the opening, a plurality of closing elements shiftably and solely supported by the door panels at the hinged connection thereof, and actuating means operable automatically as an incident to the movement of the door into closed position to shift said elements relative to the door, said elements operating when thus shifted to effect an abrupt lateral movement of the door panels toward the door opening.

18. An overhead door having a plurality of hingedly connected panels for traversing an opening, tracks having upright sections adjacent the opening and substantially horizontal sections receding from the opening, a plurality of closing elements shiftably and solely supported by the door panels at the hinged connections thcrebetween, actuating means operable automatically as an incident to the movement of the door into closed position to shift said elements relative to the door, said means including a stop, a device adapted to engage with the stop asthe door moves into its closed position and having a .part movable upwardly upon such engagement,

and means connecting said elements for movement in unison by said upwardly moving part, said connecting means being constructed to permit said panels to swing relative to each other 1 and substantially horizontal sections receding 15 from the door opening, a plurality of arms pivotally supported by the door panels at the hinged connections therebetween and having guide elements engaging in said tracks, links connecting said arms at points spaced from their pivots, an actuating device, and a stop. adapted to be engaged by said device as the door moves into its closed position, said device operating upon engagement with said stop to impart a swinging movement to all of said [arms and said arms operating in such movement to cause the door to move laterally toward the door opening, said links having a lost motion connection so as to permit the door panels to swing relative to each other in passing from said receding section to said upright section and vice-versa. i 20. An overhead door having a plurality of hingedly connected panels for traversing an opening, tracks having upright sections adjacent the opening and substantially horizontal sections receding from the opening, a plurality of closing elements shiftably and solely supported by the door panels at the hinged connections therebetween, actuating means operable automatically as an incident to the movement of the door into closed position to shift said elements relative to the door, "said means including a stop, a device adapted to engage with the stop as the door moves into its closed position and having a part 'movable upwardly upon such engagement, and means connecting said elements for movement in unison by said upwardly moving part, said-device also being operable upon the uppermost panel to move its upper edge toward the door opening.

21. The combination of a door frame, a door comprising a plurality of panels hinged together in abutting edge relation, a pairof tracks at opposite sides of the door opening with relatively straight vertical sections parallel to the door opening, straight horizontal sections above the door opening, and curved sections connecting the straight sections, a plurality of arms each having one end pivotallyconnected to the door for limited movement relative thereto, guide elements carried by the arms and engaging'in said tracks, means connecting the several arms at each side of the door, and stop means operating as an inci dent to the movement of the door-into closed position to rock the interconnected arms in a direction to move the panels laterally into tightly fitting relation to the frame.

HAROLD F. COLLINS. 

